Berkeley - Cal head coach Tom Holmoe said today that the playing status of several key players may not be decided until just before game time Saturday when the Bears face USC at 3:30 p.m. in Memorial Stadium.

Igber suffered a shoulder sprain late in the Washington game and he has been held out of contact drills this week during practice. Holmoe indicated that Marcus Fields, who has missed the last two games due to a shoulder injury of his own, is healthy and will get the starting nod. Igber may be able to come off the bench and provide a spark for the Cal offense, depending on how his shoulder feels on game day.

DeLoach has been hampered by a sore shoulder/neck since the Washington State game and has played only sporadically during the last four games, sitting out the Washington game last week entirely. His status is uncertain entering Saturday's game.

In other news, Holmoe announced that sophomore Jamaal Cherry would make his first collegiate start at inside linebacker with Sekou Sanyika moving to his familiar outside linebacker spot. Soph Dewey Hale will start at strong safety, in place of Damian Marzett, who has a sprained ankle.